Steel cutting ceremony starts work on first ship in major Appledore contract

A traditional steel cutting ceremony has been held at Appledore shipyard to mark the start of work on the first of three Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ships to serve the Royal Navy.

North Devon will share in the £100million investment by Navantia UK in its Appledore and Belfast yards as part of the contract to provide three next-generation Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships.

The steel cutting ceremony today (Wednesday, December 3), led by Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP, officially kicked off the start of the construction of the first FSS ship.

Commodore Sam Shattock, Head of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, revealed the name of the first ship as RFA Resurgent.

Above: Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP being presented with the model of the ship by Donato Martinez, CEO of Navantia UK. Credit: Guy Harrop

Appledore will construct the bow sections of the ships, which will comprise three individual blocks. Navantia UK currently employs 200 people at the yard, including 20 new apprentices who were recruited this year in partnership with Petroc College.

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Each ship will be 216 metres long - the length of two Premier League football pitches - and will provide munitions, spares, food and other essential stores to naval vessels at sea.

This new capability will enhance defence operations, meaning the Royal Navy can remain at sea for prolonged periods of time without returning to port.

The ceremony was attended by the Navantia UK workforce at Appledore along with apprentices and representatives from Ministry of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the RFA, the Royal Navy, government and industry. UK suppliers to the FSS programme as well as local businesses supplying to the Appledore shipyard were also in attendance.

Above: Commodore Sam Shattock reveals the name of the first FSS ship, RFA Resurgent. Credit: Guy Harrop

As part of its investment to fulfil the contract, Navantia UK says it has created 222 apprenticeships at its two yards and has committed to 500 more by 2030.

Donato Martínez, CEO of Navantia UK, said: “Across our yards, we have worked tirelessly to mark today’s milestone. It is a proud day for the whole team, whose commitment has brought us to this point.

“The FSS programme continues to deliver on two fronts: critical capability for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and long-term sovereign industrial capacity for the UK through investment in infrastructure, technology and skills. Today’s steel cut is evidence of what we have been saying all along. When we make a commitment to deliver, we do so.”

Minister Luke Pollard added: “This is a significant moment as we begin the build of the RFA’s newest ship that will keep our Royal Navy ready to fight and able to deter future threats.

“By backing British shipbuilding, we are creating more than 1,200 skilled jobs in Devon, Belfast and beyond. This shows defence is as an engine for growth, boosting communities across the UK. In a new era of threat, we are investing more of a rising defence budget in new platforms and technologies.”

Above: Pictured are Ricardo Dominguez (chairman, Navantia UK), Commodore Sam Shattock and Alan Massey (non-executive chairman, Navantia UK) at the steel cutting ceremony in Appledore. Credit: Guy Harrop

Commodore Shattock said: “The ship is innovative, meets the latest environmental protection standards and is designed from the bottom up to deliver maritime sustainment as efficiently as possible.”

In Appledore, the investment by Navantia in the former Harland & Wolff yard includes new roofing and a new plasma cutter, which was used to cut the steel today.

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Ricardo Domínguez, Navantia chairman, said the partnership between Britain and Spain mattered.

He added: “As European nations face shared security challenges, industrial cooperation like this makes both countries stronger.

“It is almost a year since Appledore, Belfast, Methil and Arnish facilities joined Navantia UK. I would also like to commend the hard work of all those involved in the integration and the creation of this new actor in British shipbuilding. Today is also proof of your commitment and professionalism.”